Thanks for your efforts, David.
Copied the ISO to a Linux based Easy2Boot, boots no problem on Acer Aspire
One. I've always liked the Refracta look.

> user@exefce:~$ cat /proc/cmdline
> initrd=/live/initrd.img boot=live union=aufs
> components=openssh-server,sudo,lightdm,refracta-lang
> BOOT_IMAGE=/live/vmlinuz
> user@exefce:~$ dpkg --search /sbin/init
> sysvinit-core: /sbin/init
> user@exefce:~$
>
>
Don't see any systemd anywhere.
Could you elaborate on how you accomplished the build?
Did you have to use systemd-shim?

regards,
Richard.